Lot 22: Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Lever Action Navy Pistol

This Lever Action Navy pistol was manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company c. 1856. The pistol has the distinctive brass frame, loading lever with finger hole and octagon barrel with integral magazine. The eight-inch, Type I, barrel has a full rib, ten-shot magazine, crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, nickel-silver cone front sight and thick brass magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the three-line legend: "THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854". The plain brass receiver has semi-circular cut-outs on the front and rear of the ejection port, a dove-tail mounted rear sight, loading lever with finger hole, hammer with hand-cut knurling and two-piece walnut grips. An "X" factory inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the loading lever. The serial number is stamped on the right side of the loading lever, right side of the butt beneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. The barrel has commercial blue finish. The cartridge elevator, rear sight, bolt and hammer are fire blue and the hammer and trigger are color casehardened. The grips are varnished with high polish piano finish. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., manufactured approximately 1,500 Navy pistols with eight-inch barrels between 1855 and 1857. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Exceptionally fine. This pistol is in exceptional condition. The barrel/magazine retains 85% plus of the blue finish with minimal handling wear, sharp edges and crisp Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. legend. The receiver is in excellent condition with minimal handling and storage marks, tight side-plate joints and extremely attractive, un-touched, aged patina. The loading lever, rear sight and cartridge elevator retain 60% of the fire blue finish. The hammer and trigger have 75% of the muted case colors. The grips are very fine as slightly ill-fitting with gap visible at top of both panels, scattered light handling marks and retain most of the original piano finish. The bolt has been period modified to center-fire configuration. Aside from the modified bolt, this is an exceptional example of a scarce Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Lever Action Navy pistol.